Anthony Ledlin, father of Cranbourne car crash teen Jack, guilty of driving, theft charges
In August Anthony Ledlin was arrested on warrants as he sat in court to support his son Jack over a deadly Cranbourne road smash. This time he was the defendant.
South East
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A dodgy-driving dad who was sensationally arrested at his son’s deadly car crash court case has pleaded guilty to a series of traffic and theft charges.
Anthony Joseph Ledlin was taken into custody on outstanding warrants after police realised he was sitting in the gallery at his son Jack’s court hearing at Dandenong in August.
Jack Ledlin was appearing in court for allegedly stealing the car involved in a double-fatal crash that killed two of his young mates in Cranbourne in August.
Dad Anthony faced Frankston Magistrates’ Court yesterday on charges including petrol drive-offs, number-plate thefts, community corrections order breaches, and unlicensed and drug driving.
His spree dates back to October 2015 when he was nabbed speeding and unlicensed in Coolart Rd, Tyabb.
He gave his brother’s name and address to try and fool officers, as he had lost his licence in 2009 and never reapplied to get it back.
Then in December 2015 he did a $42 drive-off from a Mornington servo, and then another, this time valued at $30 from a Frankston petrol station, in January 2016.
Each time he used stolen or homemade plates attached to his Hyundai.
He was put on a community corrections order imposed for burglary and dishonesty offences in May 2016, but only attended four times before absconding to Queensland a month later.
He then came back to Victoria, but soon resumed his crime spree, getting caught driving while high on ice in Tuerong in November last year.
And on April 2 this year he committed his most brazen offending – while driving unlicensed he parked his car in a disabled spot at Frankston police station – as he was being watched on the station’s CCTV.
The unemployed Baxter man was arrested and bailed, but disappeared until he was apprehended at his son’s hearing where he was remanded for a short time and then bailed again.
His defence lawyer said Ledlin had had a “difficult” few years, with a long-term relationship break-up and problems with his children.
He said the reason he went to Queensland was because he needed to assist his two young kids who were living there at the time, but now they are here in Victoria he is coping much better.
He said Ledlin had stopped using ice and was getting medical assistance for his mental health concerns, and jailing him would be devastating for his children.
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Magistrate Fiona Stewart said Ledlin had “a history of dishonesty”, but most of these matters were old and should have been taken into account in his sentencing back in 2016.
She said he now has far greater responsibilities and she was prepared to give him a chance in a “start again situation”.
Ledlin was sent to be assessed for another community corrections order, likely to include work hours, mental health assistance and drug counselling.
He was also disqualified from driving for 12 months.